Mechanism for adhering gummed tape to the top flaps of an envelope assembly in continuous form



July 21, 1959 D. J. STEIDINGER MECHANISMVFOR ADHERING GUMMED TAPE TO THE TOPFLAPS OF AN ENVELOPE ASSEMBLY IN CONTINUOUS FORM 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 24, 1956 July 21, 1959 D. STEIDINGER MECH SM FOR-ADHE G GU D TAPE To THE T FLAPS AN ENVELOPE ASSEMB IN CONTINUOUS M Filed May 24, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 F155 FIE-5 M i7 7 53 W/ w/ I w "2': 4, FIE? U f I a fliz Jana (d J. 52291622 2" 7? 3 57 v; I II \ywkagg/w) y 1959 D. J. STEIDINGER 2,895,534

MECHANISM FOR ADHERING GUMMED TAPE To TH TOP FLAP-S 01? AN ENVELOPE ASSEMBLY IN CONTINUOUS FORM Filed May 24, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 21, 1959 D. J. S'i'ElDINGER,

MECHANISM FOR ADHERING GUMMED TAPE TO THE TOP FLA OF AN ENVELOPE ASSEMBLY IN CONTINUOUS FORM Filed May 24, 1956 Mao, M*

m @Nog 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Qll July, 1959 D. J. STEIDINGER 2,895,534

MECHANISM FOR ADI-{BRING GUMMED TAPE TO THE TOP FLAPS OF AN ENVELOPE ASSEMBLY IN CONTINUOUS FORM Filed May 24, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I :::3 "5"" 41 1/5 52- 1E 7 1/2 7/ 1/4 a I I 68 w "W 6/ 107 July 21, 1959 D. J. STEIDINGER 2,895,534 MECHANISM FOR ADHERING GUMMED TAPE .TO THE TOP FLAPS OF AN ENVELOPE ASSEMBLY IN CONTINUOUS FORM Filed vMay 24, 1956 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 .1 I i I l I l l l l I I I I I 4 0000.

United States Patent MECHANISM: FOR ADHERING GUMMED TAPE TO. THE TOP FLAPS {OF AN ENVELOPE ASSEM i IBLY IN CONTINUOUS FORM Donald J. Steiding erQDeep River, Conn assignor to Uarco Incorporated, a corporation of Illinois Application May 24, 1956, Serial No. 587,157 11 Claims. Cl. 154-15 This invention relates to a mechanism for adhering lengths of gummed tape to each top flap of an assembly of envelop es incontinuous form.

formed with increasing speed and accuracy onmodern automatic business machines. Envelope assemblies 1n continuous form have come into widespread use, on such machines so that a series of envelopes may be successively,

to subject the envelope assembly to a drying operation before the assembly is ready for packaging and shipment. By providing a, mechanism for adhering strips of gummed tape successively to each of the top flaps of an envelope assembly in continuous form, the" costly and time con suming drying operation has been omitted. The mechanism of the present invention is particularly well adapted for positioning and adhering individual lengths of gummed tape to the top flapsof each envelope in an envelope assembly in order to secure the advantages inherent in the use of gummed tape in the manufacture of such assemblies. v i

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved mechanism for adhering lengths of gummed tape to the top closure flaps of envelopes in continuous form.

Another object is to provide a mechanism for coordinating the operation of a heat sealing means with the movement of successive gummed tape lengths being. projected across the path of an intermittently advancing envelope assembly in continuous form. t

" Afur'ther object is to provide a guide means associated with the heat sealing means on such a mechanism which willy receive and position each of the tape lengths in a preselected position relative to the advancingenvelope assembly. r Still another object istoprovide such a guide means which is movable to a retracted position as a length of gummed tape is adhered to the closureflap of an envelope of the assembly, and which remains in that retracted position until the open envelope pocket of the envelope being provided with the gummed tape passes over the positioning means and the next envelope in the assembly becomes indexed with its top closure flap positioned between the heat sealing means. i i

I Another object is to provide a feed means for such a mechanism which will advance the gummed tape a preselected distance across the pathof advance of the envelope assembly. v v

fA further object is toprovide such a feed means which will form a longitudinally extending crease in eachleng'th ,Routine' business ofl'lce matters are now being. per.

"ice

. 2 of gummed tape advanced so as to stiffen the tape being advanced. l v r i A further object isto provide a severing means which is coordinated with the operation of the heat sealing means to sever a length of gummed tape from a continuous strip as that length of gummed tape is being adhered to a top flap of an envelope in the continuous form assembly.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational 'viewshowing the heat seal ing means, the feed means foradvancing each length of gummed tape to the sealing means, and a supply roll of gummed tape; v t i Fig. 2, a sectional view taken as indicated on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the tape. chute through which the gummed tape passes in going from the feed means .to the heat sealing means;

Fig. 4, a top plan view of the tape chute of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, a sectional View taken asindicated on line 5 5 of Fig. 3; I Fig. 6, a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated on line 66 of Fig; 1;

Fig.7, an enlarged sectional viewtaken as indicated on line 77 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8, an enlarged broken side elevational view of the heat sealing means; i i v i Fig. 9, a fragmentary elevational view of the heat seal means and severing means taken from the left of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10, a fragmentary end elevational view of the heat seal means and positioning means taken from the right of Fig. 8; f

Fig. 11,. a view similar toFig. 10, but showing the positioning means in retracted position after the top heat seal bar member of the heat seal meanshas pushed the positioning means to retracted position andhas started upwardly; r t

Fig. 12, a fragmentary broken end elevational view as in Fig. 11; with some parts removed, illustrating the top heatseal bar member pushing the positioning means into retracted position; r

Fig. 13, a fragmentary top plan view of a top flapen-j velope assembly in continuous form showing diagrammatically the steps in forming the envelope assembly;

Fig. 14, an enlarged perspective view of a complete envelope detached from the assembly shown in Fig. 13;

and

15-15 of Fig. 14. i I p t p In the embodiment illustrated, and referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 13, the superposed webs of paper ma terial whichfultimately make up the top flap envelope assembly in continuous form are indicated by the letter A.

The webs maybe joined to form the assembly before being advanced through themechanism of the present invention, or they may be formed. into the completed Gummed Flaps and Method of Making Same. .The enassembly in the steps diagrammatically illustrated in Fig.

l3, and more specifically set out in the co-pending application of Stratton and SteidingenSerial No. 576,478,,filed April 5, 1956, entitled fContinuous Form Envelopes With velope assembly is preferably intermittently advanced by a drive mechanism, such as a New Era press.

The heat seal means is generally designated bymt he letter B, as shown in Fig. 1, and the arrangement issuch that the envelope assembly A can be intermittently advanced through a pairof opposed members or cooperatingplates in the heat seal means B.

The feed meansjgenerally designated by the letter C, is provided for; projecting the gummed tapea pref determined distance between the opposed members of the heat seal means C and transversely across the path of intermittent advance of the envelope assembly A. The feed means C is actuated by a driving member which is keyed to the main drive shaft of a New Era press so that each advance of a strip of gummed tape is in closely timed relationship with each of the intermittent advances of'the envelope assembly as regulated by the drive of the New Era press.

A supply of gummed tape, designated by the letter D, is threaded through the feed means C so that it can be projected across the path of the envelope assembly A, as pointed out above. The tape is preferably ofthe type described in the co-pending application of E. J. Stratton' et al.,, Serial No. 576,478, filed April 5, 1956. That is, one side of the tape is provided with moisture sensitive adhesive, and the other side is adapted for heat, scaling to a paperweb. This other side may be plain paper so that it will adhere to a heat seal adhesive on the paper web, or it may be provided with a heat seal adhesive which, when activated by heat and pressure, will adhere the gummed tape strip to a paper web.

A main frame is provided to house the feed means C. The drive means for the feed means C may include a. ratchet member 21 and a cooperating rocker arm 22 both journaled in the frame 20. The rocker arm 22 is provided at one end with a pawl member 23 which may be spring urged into engagement with the notches 21a in the ratchet member 21. The other end of the rocker arm 22 makes a pivotal connection at 24 with a connecting rod 25 secured to a sleeve member 26 which embraces and is retained in place upon an eccentric 27. The eccentric is keyed to a drive shaft 28 from a New Era press which provides the driving force for advancing the envelope assembly through the heat seal means.

Thus, when the main drive shaft 28 is turned, it rotates the eccentric 27 with it, causing reciprocation of the connecting rod 25 which in turn pivots the rocker arm 22 clockwise, as shown in Fig. 1, and advances the ratchet member 21 a preselected distance depending upon the desired stroke of the connecting rod 25.

As the ratchet member 21 is turned in a step-by-step manner, the shaft 29 to which the ratchet 21 is secured is also caused to turn which in turn rotates a spur gear 30 keyed to one end of the shaft 29. The spur gear 30 is part of a gear train comprising additional spur gears 31 and 32 which transmit the step-by-step rotary mo 'tion of the ratchet wheel to a pair of friction feed discs 33 and 34. The spur gear 30 is sometimes referred to as a change gear because, by varying its size, the angle of rotation of the friction feed disc 34 can be varied which in turn varies the amount of gummed tape projected, as will be later seen.

The supply of gummed tape D is supported for rotation in the frame 20 upon a reel having a pair of trunnions 35 which are adaptedto fit into a pair'of'slots'36 toward the rear of the frame 20. A brake drum 37 may be secured adjacent the supply of gummed tape D on one of the trunnions 35, and a brake band 38' may be provided to embrace the drum 37 to prevent the roll from unwinding too freely. The braking pressure upon the drum 37 can be regulated by a simple thumb screw 40, in the manner shown in Fig. 1.

In order'to prepare for a feeding operation, a continuous strip of gummed tape 41 is unwound from the gummed tape supply D and passed around a floating dancer 42, and then upwardly around an idle roller 43- journale'd in the frame 20, and finally between the friction feed discs 33 and 34. Since the machine is operated with great rapidity there is a rather violent demand by the machine for gummed tape from the supply roll D.

To assure that this demand always be filled, the .floating that a sufiicient supply of gummed tape is always available unwound frorn the supply roll D.

In order to thread the strip 41 of gummed tape through the friction discs 33 and 34, the upper disc 33 is made capable of vertical movement. As best seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the feed disc 33 is keyed to a shaft 44 which is journaled in a support member 45 capable of being pivoted upwardly away from the feed disc 34 in a conven-Z tional manner. To facilitate this pivotalmovement a throw-off lever 47 may be provided. As best seenin Fig. 2, when the feed discs. 33 and 34 are adjacent each: other infeeding position, the pressure of the feed disc 33 against the feed disc 34 may be varied by turning threaded members 48a and 50atovary the compression in springs 48 and 50 which bear downwardly upon the bearings for the shaft 44.

It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the feed disc 33 has a generally V-shaped peripheral configuration and that the feed disc 34 has. a mating peripheral configuration so that the two feed discs make a close fit when to! gether in feeding position. By shaping the peripheries inv this manner, a longitudinally extending line of fold. 39 is imparted to the continuous strip of gummedv tape 41 as it passes between the feed discs and is projected" toward the heat seal means B. By creasing the strip in this manner, the strip is stiffened and projection of the strip is facilitated.

As best seen in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5, a tape chute, generally designated 51, is preferably provided for the. con-- tinuous strip of gummed tape 41 and extends from thefeed discs 33 and 34 to a point adjacent the end of theheat seal means B. The tape chute 51 is formed from. a lower member 52 and a removable cover member 53' which are preferably shaped to fit together as shown in.

Fig. 5 to provide a longitudinally extending tape channel 54 having a cross section in the shape of an inverted V.- The lower member 52 and the cover member 53 are normally held together by threaded bolts 55 and 56, having: coiled springs 49 and 59 embracing their shanks and. held in position by nuts 55a and. 56a. As seen'in Fig. 4,. the cover member 53 may be provided with a crossmember 57 having a pair of slots 58 and 60 fitting about the shanks of the bolts 55 and 56 so that the cover mernber 53 may be conveniently removed to position the. continuous strip of gummed tape 41 in the tape chute 51.!

Turning now to the heat seal means B, this means in- The base member 61 may be provided with a pair of grooves 66 in the surface 65 which extend transversely" of the advancing envelope assembly A. Positioning means for each projected length of gummed tape 41 are.

provided to operate in the grooves 66 and areadapted to move from an exposed position above the surface 65to a retracted position in the grooves 66. As herein shown- .in Fig. 7, the positioning means comprises a pair of generally parallel guide rails 67 joined at their opposite'end' portions by a pair 'of arms 68 and 70 which are pivoted to the opposite outer ends of the base member 61 at 7-1" and 72.

The pivot arm 68 of the guide rails 67 is preferably; provided with a pair of apertures 73 and 74. The aperture 73 is positioned to cooperate with a ball and spring latch 75 positioned in a well 76 in the base member 61, as best shown in Fig. 8, to form cooperating latching members which automatically hold the guide rails 67 in? their upward or exposed position, as seen in Fig; 10.

A limit stop. 77 may be provided on the base member 61. to project through the other aperture 7 4 and limit the,

downwardly through the apertured bracket 103.

upward and downward pivotal movement of the guide rails 67, as shown in Figs. and 11.

At the other end of the base member 61 adjacent the pivot arm 70 a severing means or knife member 78 is provided, as best seen in Fig. 9. The knife member 78 may have a cutting edge 80 of inverted V configuration which is angled in substantially the same manner as a cross section of the creased continuous strip of gummed tape 41. The knife blade may be pivoted at 81 to a shear block 82 and the cutting edge 80 is normally urged in an upward direction by a tension spring 83 joining the base member 61 to the knife blade 78.

As best seen in Fig. 9, the shear block 82 is positioned adjacent the cutting edge 80 of the knife blade 78, and is secured to the base member 61 by machine bolts 79. The shear block 82 is spaced from the base member 61 by several sleeve-like collars 84 about the shanks of bolts 79. The shear block 82 preferably has an upwardly angled edge 85 of a configuration similar to the angled cutting edge 80, and when the knife blade is in its normal position an angled opening 86 is provided between the knife edge 80 and the angled edge 85 of the shear block 82 through which a length of the continuous strip of gummed tape 41 may be projected from the tape chute 51.

Referring to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, a spring-loaded plate 87 is provided adjacent the side of the knife member 78 opposite the shear block 82 to keep the knife member in proper contact with the shear block 82 to give a good cutting action. The plate 87 is preferably held in position by a pair of machine bolts 88 and 89 which pass through the shear block 82 and are threaded into the plate 87. A pair of springs 90 and 91 embracing the shanks of the bolts 88 and 89 urge the plate 87 against the knife member 78.

The bar member 63 is normally supported by the press platen 92 of the New Era press. The press platen 92 is adapted to reciprocate vertically in timed relation to the advance of the envelope assembly A, and the movement 'of the bar member 63 and the press platen 92 may be guided by extensions 93 and 94 which make a close sliding fit with the guide posts 95 and 96 of the New Era press. The bar member 63 may be spring loaded so as to provide a cushioning effect when the face 64 of the bar member isbrought into gripping engagement with the face 65 of the base member 61.

The knife member 78 is preferably actuated to sever a length of gummed tape 41 each time the bar member 63 is operated. For this purpose, as seen in Fig. 9, an L-shaped bracket 97 may be provided at the end of the bar member 63 adjacent the knife member 78. The bracket 97 preferably is secured to the bar member 63 by machine bolts 100 and 101 extending through a pair of slots 98 which permit vertical adjustment of the bracket 97. As best seen in Figs. 8 and 9, when the bar member63 moves downwardly an end of the L-shaped bracket 97 engages an upper edge of the knife member 78 to lower the knife blade so that the cooperating edges 80 and 85 of the knife member 78 and shear block 82 respectively may sever a length of gummed tape 41 projecting through the angled opening 86.

At the other end of the heat seal means B a pair of apertured brackets 102 and 103 may be mounted in spaced relation, one on the bar member 63 and the other on the pivot arm 68 of the guide rails 67. An elongated bolt or pin 104 having a smooth shank 105 and a threaded free end may be secured to the bracket 102 and extend The compression spring 106 is preferably positioned beneath the lower bracket 103 about the shank 105 of the bolt 104 and is held in position by a nut 107.

This arrangement of elements in effect provides a lost motion connection between the bar member 63 and the guide rails 67. When the bar member 63 is depressed,

.its lower face 64 bears against the upper edges of the .guide rails 67 and depresses them into retracted position 8 in the grooves 66. The downward movement of the guide rails 67 to retracted position disengages the ball catch 75 from the aperture 73 in the pivot arm 68, and reduces the compression in the spring 106 by allowing it to become extended between the bracket 103 and the nut '107.

When the bar member 63 starts its upward movement, the guide rails 67 remain in their retracted position for a fraction of a second because the force being exerted by the compression spring 106 is insuflicient to overcome the force of gravity operating on the guide rails 67. However, as the bar member 63 continues its upward movement, the spring 106 is gradually compressed, and it exerts a force strong enough to overcome the force of gravity on the guide rails 67 and move the guide rails to their exposed position above the surface 65 of the base member. In upwardly exposed position the pivot arm 68 of the guide rails 67 is once again engaged and supported by the ball catch 75 and the limit stop 77 projecting through the aperture 74 of the arm 68 functions to limit the extent of the upward movement of the guide rails 67. Even though the stop 77 arrests upward movement of the guide rails 67, the bar member 63 may continue upward for a fraction of an inch because the movement is absorbed by the spring 106 which is further compressed.

In operation, the New Era press intermittently advances the envelope assembly A through the heat seal means B at a preferred operating speed of about envelopes per minute. The sequence involved in the heat sealing operation is best illustrated in Figs. 9 through 12. Initially, the drive of the New Era press is actuated to advance a ladder-like web 112 and a superposed web 111 of the assembly A so that a flap portion 113 is positioned between the surface 64 of the bar member 63 and the surface 65 of the base member 61, as shown in Fig. 10. It should be noted that at this time the two webs 111 and 112 are preferably not as yet joined and that a small transversely extending portion 114a of both webs adjacent the forward edge of the flap 113 also lies between the two surfaces 64 and 65. It is also preferred that the tension in the webs 111 and 112 be sufficient to hold them in spaced relation with respect to each of the surfaces 64 and 65.

As the flap portion 113 is being indexed in relationto the heat seal means B, the drive of the New Era press also actuates the rocker arm 22 through the eccentric 27 and connecting rod 25 to advance the ratchet member 21 a part of a rotation, clockwise as seen in Fig. 1. This partial rotation of the ratchet member 21 in turn actuates the feed discs 33 and 34 which projects the gummed tape 41 through the tape chute 51 and the angled opening 86 between the knife member 78 and the shear block 82 to a position beneath the flap 113 upon the surface 65 of the base member 61 and between the guide rails 67, as best seen in Fig. 10. The projection of the gummed tape 41 is performed in timed relation to the advance of the envelope webs 111 and 112 so that a length of gummed tape 41 will preferably lie entirely across the path of advance of envelope webs 111 and 112, as seen in Fig. 13, when the webs are brought to a halt and the flap 113 is indexed beneath the bar member 63. As seen in Fig. 10, the V-shaped configuration of the gummed tape 41 assures that the longitudinal marginal edges of each tape length will bear against and be directed by the guide rails 67 during a feeding operation. The length of the gummed tape 41 projected by the feed discs 33 and 34 is regulated by changing the gear ratio in the train of spur gears 30, 31 and 32.

The press platen 92 then depresses the bar member 63 against the guide rails 67 to move them to retracted position so that the projected length of gummed tape 41, adjacent portions of the flap 113, and the portion 114a are gripped between the faces 64 and 65, as shown in Fig. 12.. By application of heat and pressure from heating elements fi9and 69a, thengummedutapet l is adhered .to-rthe flap 5113 and thebottom :edge 114 of an envelope of xthe :assembly is heat sealed together, all in one operation. It should'be noted that itheoperation of the guide rai'lsa67 and the V-1shaped configuration of the gummed tape 41 insures that the tape 4-1 will not slip out of position Jon the flap 113 before the faces 64 .and 65 are brought into gripping engagement. When the press is running at its preferred speed the heat sealing operation takes about one-quarter of a second.

The press platen 92 next begins tomove the bar member 63 upwardly. Theenvelope webs 111 and 112 pref eraibly remain stationary during the first one-eighth of an inch of upward movement of the :bar member 63. .As .the bar member continues .its upward movement, the drive of the New Era press .is again actuated and starts to move the Webs 1111 and 112 forwardly to index the next succeeding envelope flap .between the bar member 63 and base memberel in the manner indicated above.

iDuringthis initial forward movement ofthe envelope webs, the guide rails :67 remain in retracted position until the open mouth or pocket 115 of the web material has passed beyond the most forward of the guide rails .67 so "that the pocket 115 will not catch on one of the guide rails '67 and tear the web 112. The guide rails remain in retracted position because the downward force of gravitypupon the guide rails is initially greater than the upward force exertedby the compression spring. .However, vas :the heat .sealbar member .63 continues its up- Ward ;-movement 'the compression spring 106 is gradually 'compressed between the-bracket103 and the mm 107 so that this compressive .force overcomes the force of gravity, and moves the guiderails to their exposed position wherezthey are held by the ball catch 75 engaging an aperture 73 in thepivot'arm 68.

When the guide rails 67 are once again in exposed position and the envelope 'W'bS -1'1land 112 are still being advanced-by the press, another length :of gummed tape 41 :lS shot through the tape chute to a positionibetweenthe guide rails 67 'andbeneath'the envelope Webs lll'lzand 11 12, and the above operation is repeated again. lit/is, preferred that each projection ofa length of gummed tape :41 is initiated when the guide rails 67 are about halfway up and the open mouth or pocket 115 OfTthE web material has'passed by the guide rails 67.

Fig. 13 diagrammatically illustrates the heat sealing operation and the steps involved in completing the formation of the envelope assembly A. After the bottom edge 114 is sealed the envelope is advanced to its next station where the side edges 116 and 117 are adhered together. The apertured feed tracks 118 and 120 may then be provided in each "of the opposite marginal edge portions, after which die cut portions may be removed from the assembly at 121'and 122'to give shape to the envelope flap 113. The-opposite marginal edge portions may then be trimmed as indicated at 123 and 124 to com plete the formation of the envelope assembly.

Figs. 14 and 1S illustrate a single top flap envelope after it has beenqdetachedfrom the assembly. The strip of gummed tape 41 is shown adhered to-the top edge of the flap 113, and-having its gummed face exposed for sealing.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, for some modifications Will beobvious to those skilled in the art.

Lclaim:

1.. A device for feeding and adhering gummed tape adapted for heat sealingin proper position on a strip of paper material for use in 'a series-connected envelope assembly, comprising: a base memberover which the strip of paper-material maybe advanced; feed means engagingand advancinglthetape oven the base'imenrber and transversely .across the path of the strip of paper 'material in timed l-relation to the advance :of said strip; up-

standing :ttape guides on the base member for receiving and positioning the tape .relativeto the :strip,wsaid tape guides being movable between exposed, tape-receiving position and retracted position inthe base member; :and a heat-seal :bar .disposed above "the base member .and movable against the strip to depress the tape :guides and clamp the :strip and gummed tape against the base member togadhere the gummed .tap'eto the strip.

2. A device as specified in claim 11, in which aknife member 3 is provided adjacent .an end of the base member over "which the gummed tape is advanced, said knife blade being movable across the .path of the gummed tape eachtime the barmemberpresses the strip :and gummed tape against the base member to sever the length .ofwtape being adhered to the strip 3. A device as specified in claim 1 ,.in WhlChathBdOP heat-seal bar is operatively connected to the retractible t-ape guides by a lost-motion connection .so that the upward movement of the tape guides ltoward exposed position is ldelayed after a heat-sealing operation.

:4. A device-as specified in claim 1, in which cooperating'latching members are provided on the base member andtape guidesto vhold the tape guides in exposed position, and a .lost motion connection is provided between the heat-seal bar-and tape guides, themembersproviding said-lost motionconnection including an apertured bracket on the tape lguide, an elongated pin secured to theheatseal :bar and having a threadedfree end .extendingthrough said bracket, a nut secured on said free end, and ;a compression spring embracing said pinzaud bearing against said bracket and said nut, the upward movement of the bar heat-seal first gradually compressing said spring and thereaftermoving the tape guides upwardly into exposed position in engagement with the latching members.

.5. Aide-vice forgfeeding and adhering successive lengths of gummedtape adapted forheat sealing in predetermined positions on an intermittently advancingpaper-web,"com prising: ;a pair ofcooperating rotatable feed discs actuated intimed relation with said advancing paper web-for frictionallygripping and advancing successive lengths :of gummed tape into said predetermined positions atransversely of the path of the ,paper web, said feed discs having mating peripheral surfaces of V-shaped configuration to stiffen thegummed tape by imparting "a 'longitudinal crease therein; a cooperating base member and bar member having a pair of opposed *surfaces normally spaced to;permit the paper web to advance therebetween, the .bar member being movable toward and away from the base-member in timed relation to the feeding of the gummed tape and to theintermittent advancement :of the paper web so that a gummed tape ilengthand portions of the paper Web are gripped betweeuthe opposed surfaces each timethe paper web is at rest; and means for heating oneofthe surfaces when the opposed surfacesare gripping a tape length and the paper web to heat seal the gummed tape to thepaper Web.

6. A device as specified in claim 5 in which :an :elongated tape chute having a longitudinal channel of V- shaped configuration is positioned between the feed-discs andthe opposed surfaces of thebase member and bar member, said tape chute receiving the gummed tape from the feed discs anddirecting each length ofgummed tape to a-pos ition between said opposed surfaces.

7. A device for feeding and adhering gummed tape adapted for heat-sealing in proper position on a strip of paper material for use in a series-connected envelope assembly, comprising: feed means engagingand advancing the tape transversely across the path of thestrip of paper material "in timed relation to the advance of said strip; a pair of spaced guides extending across the'path of said strip for receiving and maintaining the gummed tape in proper position and against displacement longitudinally of the strip of :paper material as the strip and gummed tape are being simultaneously fed; and a pair of cooperating members relatively movable with respect-to each other and having surfaces adapted to clamp the strip and gummed tape together, at least one of the cooperating members being heated to apply heat to the strip and gummed tape for heat sealing the same together.

8. A device for feeding and adhering gummed tape adapted for heat sealing in proper position on a strip of paper material for use in a series-connected envelope assembly, comprising: feed means engaging and advancing the tape transversely across the path of the strip of paper material in timed relation to the advance of said strip; a pair of spaced guides positioned transversely of the path of said strip to receive and position the tape relative to the strip and being movable between an exposed, tape-receiving position and a retracted position, said guides when in exposed position maintaining a length of gummed tape in proper position and against displacement longitudinally of the strip of paper material as the strip and gummed tape are being simultaneously fed; and a pair of cooperating members relatively movable with respect to each other and having surfaces adapted to clamp the strip and gummed tape together, at least one of the cooperating members being heated to apply heat to the strip and gummed tape for heat sealing the same together.

9. A device as specified in claim 8 in which one of the cooperating members engages and moves the guides to retracted position, the guides holding the length of gummed tape in proper position until the strip of paper material and the length of gummed tape are clamped between the surfaces of the cooperating members.

10. A device for feeding and adhering gummed tape adapted for heat sealing in proper position on a strip of paper material for use in a series-connected envelope assembly, comprising: feed means engaging and advancing the tape transversely across the path of the strip of paper material in timed relation to the advance of said strip,

said feed means including a pair of rotatable cooperating feed discs for frictionally gripping and advancing the gummed tape, one of said feed discs having a peripheral gripping surface of V-shaped configuration and the other of said feed discs having a mating peripheral gripping surface so that the cooperating peripheral surfaces will stiffen the gummed tape by imparting a longitudinally extending crease to each length of gummed tape advanced across the path of the strip; a pair of spaced guides positioned transversely of the path of said strip for receiving and positioning the creased tape relative to the strip; and a pair of cooperating members relatively movable with respect to each other and having surfaces adapted to clamp the strip and gummed tape together, at least one of the cooperating members being heated to apply heat to the strip and gummed tape for heat sealing the same together.

11. A device as specified in claim 10, in which the cooperating feed discs impart a V-shaped configuration to each length of gummed tape advanced between the spaced guides to assure that the longitudinal marginal edges of each length of gummed tape will bear against and be directed by said guides.

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